My elderly father has trouble with using a double click function. I have puppy set up so that most functions are single click, but unfortunately it seems that it is not possible to convert all double click functions to single click (due to gtk restraints etc) so I would like to find a way to make one key on the keyboard function as a double click button.

The most important requirement for doubleclick seems to be when he is trying to view his emails. The webmail client provided by his ISP requires a doubleclick to open each email.

I have found various posts which refer to the “mousekeys” function built in to Xorg, however it appears that accessing those functions requires use of “SHIFT + NUMLOCK” and the numlock key is unfortunately not present on my laptops or netbook.

Also, I really only want one single button to have a special function like this - rather than a whole cluster of buttons which would confuse matters.

Does anyone have any suggestions about how to enable such a function?

I am planning to disable the button click functions on the mouse as my father keeps moving icons each time he tries to move the mouse. I may rewire the mouseclick buttons so that he can access them on a separate button panel (or I may use a trackball for motion and a separate mouse for button clicks) - but solving the doubleclick issue will be quite important. If I can't do it programatically I will need to invent a two-pulse-generator circuit that grafts into the singleclick button circuit. Probably not a good idea as most of my attempts at electronic wizardry end up looking like a Sherman tank with an extension cord hanging out the side.

Mapping to one key (F9) may cause problems if an application re-maps it and makes use of it. (Use a key-mask instead such as CTRL+F9 if you encounter this issue)
OR
If using a full sized keyboard with two windows (super) keys use the right hand one as follows. (Keep your paws off the left hand one as I have it bagged )

I decided not to use a keymask as it introduces an extra difficulty for my father - he would have to concentrate on two keys at once which is asking too much at the moment.

I will have to be cautious about what other apps might do with that key.

EDIT 1: I wonder if "SHIFT F9" has any meaning? He will probably have to master the shift key eventually. If it works that might be a suitable keymask if required.

EDIT 2:I have successfully activated the F9 as a doubleclick function and in order to test it I place the mousepointer over the trash folder and press the F9 key. The trash folder opens and is empty. Then, as ETP has suggested, I decided to try using a keymask so that instead of just pressing the F9 key, you have to press ALT and F9 together.

I opened the hidden file jwmrc etc as text and saw the keybindings like this:

so I added one in for “ALT F9“ by following those examples with a slight modification as follows:

Code:

<Key mask="A" key="F9">exec:doubleclick_xdotool</Key>

(Then restarted the jwm)

That worked fine, so I thought I would try another modification by trying to use SHIFT F9 instead of ALT.

so I added one in for “SHIFT F9“ by following those examples with a slight modification as follows:

Code:

<Key mask="S" key="F9">exec:doubleclick_xdotool</Key>

It DOES activate the SHIFT F9, but I don’t get the result I expect.

Now when I put the mousepointer over the trash folder and press the Shift F9 key I get the trash folder opening, but it’s not empty as it normally is - it seems to contain a cluster of items as follows:
Help directory
template directory
AppInfo.xml file
AppRun bash file
systemmsh.wav symlink

Then I tried “C” (for CTRL) instead of “A” and the function stopped working - pressing CTRL F9 had no visible effect at all.

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